InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young at Heart ❯ Orange Sunrise ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter Seven: Orange Sunrise

 

The sun had set, and the only ones awake were Inutashomaru and Sesshoumaru. The Daiyoukai still carried both children well into the night. Finally, he had stopped and finally placed his boy onto his feet. Sesshoumaru yawned and blinked at his father curiously as he placed the little girl down onto his fur cloak.

Sesshoumaru had remained silent the entire day, slightly miffed that his father would help a human girl, but he knew it was because he didn't understand the circumstances. Turning away, he glanced around the grassy area filled with trees and uneven ground. Jumping startled, when a hand touched his shoulder, Sesshoumaru looked up.

Inutashomaru knelt down and smiled softly at his child. “You must have a lot on your mind.”

Sesshoumaru sighed and nodded.

“Would you like to talk about it?” Inutashomaru sat down and pulled Sesshoumaru into his lap.

At first Sesshoumaru remained silent, burying his face into his father's hakama, breathing deeply. He smelled his father's musky scent, which mingled with the sandalwood his father favored. Sniffing again he smelled the human and he grunted, pulling back.

The thing that bothered the smaller youkai the most was mention of a mother. He had been thinking all day what a mother was and couldn't place his finger on it. Leaning back against his father he wrapped his arms around his father's arms that were holding him tightly against his chest. Taking a deep breath for courage, he whispered. “Father? What is a mother?”

Inutashomaru closed his eyes briefly. `So this is what has been bothering him.' Smiling faintly, he rested his chin on his son's head and took a deep breath. “What is a father to you?”

Sesshoumaru blinked and frowned. “You're my father.”

Chuckling, Inutashomaru nodded. “I am yes. But what am I to you?”

Sesshoumaru was confused. Tilting his head back, he met his father's gaze.

Peering down into his son's eyes, he smiled. “Do I provide you with protection?”

The small boy nodded.

“Do I provide love?”

Again the head nodded.

“Knowledge?”

Another nod.

“Explanations?”

Sesshoumaru sighed and nodded again.

“A mother is a female who provides all of these things also.”

“Do I have a mother?”

Inutashomaru winced. “You did, yes.”

Sesshoumaru turned around in his father's arms. “Did?”

Taking a deep breath, Inutashomaru had hoped to wait a few years before having to explain to his son about his mother. “Your mother passed into the underworld a few years ago.”

“Oh. Will I meet her there?”

The Daiyoukai frowned. “Sesshoumaru, I hope for many years that you will not join her side. Certainly not until I have long passed over. You are still a pup and with me watching over you, nothing will take you from this world. We are immortal, but we can die from our wounds. You shall live in this world for as long as I can possibly do so.”

“So I won't meet her there?”

Shaking his head, the Daiyoukai smiled sadly. Lifting his finger to his son's forehead, he traced the crescent moon. “This you inherited from your mother.”

Sesshoumaru's eyes went crossed eyed trying to peer at the moon on his forehead. Inutashomaru chuckled. “You also inherited her markings on your face.”

“I thought they were yours.”

“I only have one per cheek. You have two.”

“Was she an Inu youkai also?” Sesshoumaru smiled then.

Inutashomaru nodded. “Yes she was and a very powerful princess.”

“Did she have hair like us?” Sesshoumaru asked, playing with his father's hair.

“Her hair was darker, with hints of blue shimmering along the strands.”

“Was she pretty?”

Inutashomaru sighed, and nodded. “She was, incredibly so. Are we finished talking about your mother?” He needed another subject. The discussion had awoken too many long forgotten memories in him.

Sesshoumaru felt his father's sadness, and sighed. “One more question?”

Inutashomaru smiled softly and nodded.

“Did she love me?”

The Daiyoukai nodded. “She loved you more then her own life, Sesshoumaru. She would have gone to the ends of the earth for you.”

Sesshoumaru felt his smile broaden. “Did you two love each other?”

“We did. Now let us watch the moon, tonight it is a crescent like the one on your forehead.” Saying it firmly, gave Sesshoumaru the hint that a change in topic was needed, and he obliged by shifting his position and turning his gaze to the sliver of silver in the black sky.

They sat there in silence for a long while, before Inutashomaru felt his son relax completely indicating that he was asleep. Gathering his son into his arms, positioning him into his lap more comfortably, Inutashomaru held his son all night, his mind frantically trying to block out the memories of his wife.

The sky brightened slightly, and the sun began its journey. Gasping slightly, he grinned. Nudging his son, he whispered. “Sesshoumaru, wake.”

Sesshoumaru grumbled, and blinked open his eyes. “Tired.”

“Yes, I know. Look at the sky.”

Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to where the moon had been and he wiped his eyes quickly, his own gasp filling the silence of the camp. The sky was orange, pink, faint blue, white, plus many various shades of purple. Blinking rapidly, he looked over his shoulder at his father whose eyes were locked on the sky.

“It's beautiful isn't it?” Inutashomaru grinned, his teeth flashing in the early morning light.

Sesshoumaru nodded. “How come I have never seen one before?”

“An orange sunrise? Most times you are still asleep. They are rare, and I felt this morning was a good time for you to see one.” Standing up and lifting his son with him, he looked over his shoulder at the still sleeping little girl. “I suppose we should be on our way?”

“Do we really have to take her, father?” Sesshoumaru grumbled, still tired, and cranky.

Chuckling, he nodded. “She misses her family. Nurie was taken by force, and we must return her to her home.”

“Why us?”

“Fate has chosen us. One day you will learn about it, Sesshoumaru. We may live in different worlds then the humans, but in all truth, we are not so different then they are.”

“How so?”

“They feel pain, fear, hate, love, happiness, joy, passion. Many feelings that we share. They are extremely devoted to those they love, as we are. Even though they fear our kind, the fact of the matter is, they don't understand us. Just as we don't understand them.”

“But they are weak.”

“Who told you that?”

“Rendromaru.”

“That irritating little rat?” Inutashomaru shook his head. “He is a bitter old youkai with no love left in him for any beings. Humans are perhaps stronger then we are in many aspects, Sesshoumaru. We hold power, where they hold unending patience and determination.”

Sesshoumaru smiled and nodded. “I am too young to understand right?”

The Daiyoukai snorted. “Yes, but one day you will understand. Now shall we continue?”

Sesshoumaru sighed and rolled his eyes. “If we must.”

Growling, Inutashomaru tossed his son over his shoulder. “We must, you little mutt.”

Sesshoumaru giggled. Laying over his father's shoulder, Sesshoumaru lifted his head slightly, squirming to get comfortable. “Father?”

“Yes Sesshoumaru?”

“Will you be carrying us again today?”

Inutashomaru shook his head. “No, you both shall be walking. I also have come to a decision, where you both shall remain behind while I retrieve the pack and scan the area for danger.”

Sesshoumaru gasped. “You're going to leave me with her?”

“I am.” The Daiyoukai placed his son onto his feet and knelt down beside the girl to wake her. Nurie opened her eyes and blinked rapidly. “Good morning, Nurie.” Inutashomaru smiled. “We must leave.”

The little girl nodded and got to her feet without complaint. She smiled brightly. “I had a dream of my mommy last night.”

Inutashomaru stood up and looked down at the girl. “Did you?”

She nodded. “I was picking flowers with her, and we sang songs, and played in the field. It was wonderful.” Nurie emphasized her words with spreading her arms wide and twirling around in a circle.

Inutashomaru chuckled. “You will be with your mother soon, so you may do what your dreams have foretold.”

Nurie giggled and stopped spinning. “Hi.” She waved at Sesshoumaru who quickly stepped behind his father's legs, blushing. “Is he shy?” Nurie asked looking up at the Daiyoukai.

Frowning, Inutashomaru glanced over his shoulder peering at his son who had hidden himself behind his pants. Shaking his head he looked back at the little girl who still stared at him. “He is not familiar with human traits, Nurie. Perhaps he is only unsure, but certainly not shy.”

“Okay.” She beamed.

“Come, it is time to leave.” Inutashomaru walked away, startling his son who now had no where to hide. Blinking, he quickly ran after his father with Nurie trailing behind them skipping happily.

Sesshoumaru glanced over his shoulder from time to time, seeing if the little girl still skipped behind him, and once he saw she was, he quickly snapped his head forward, looking at the white pant legs of his father.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when she skipped right up to him, breaking him from his steady gaze of his father's pants, and blinking he turned his head staring into a pair of bright brown eyes. Sesshoumaru felt his mouth drop open in surprise.

“Want to race?” She asked, skipping beside him.

Swallowing, he shook his head frantically.

“I bet you would beat me, you being a demon and all, but running makes me feel so light on my feet.” She giggled.

Sesshoumaru grunted.

“If you give me a head start, maybe I would beat you.” Nurie giggled.

Sesshoumaru frowned, and inched away slightly.

“Come on, it'll be fun.” Nurie insisted.

The small youkai pup shook his head firmly.

“Okay. Want to play tap and chase then?”

He glanced at her curiously. Opening his mouth to ask what that was, he shook himself out of his curiosity and shook his head again, snapping his mouth shut with an audible click.

“Tap and chase is where one taps you on the shoulder, and the one who was tapped chases until the other one is tapped by the one who was doing the chasing. It is so much fun, my friends and I play it all the time.” Nurie babbled happily.

Blinking, now completely lost, Sesshoumaru pursed his lips. “That doesn't…” He choked and placed his hands over his mouth in shock. Did he really just talk to this girl? Groaning, he twisted around and ran after his father.